Dinapigue Mining Corporation (DMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), has reiterated its commitment to environmentally-responsible mining and community safety in the province of Isabela.
During the 2025 Stakeholders Forum organized by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and as reported in an article by the Philippine Information Agency, DMC strictly emphasized that its mining operations are located outside the buffer zones and the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. The company also assured stakeholders that it adheres to Philippine environmental laws and that all its activities are monitored by the appropriate government agencies.
DMC operates in the town of Dinapigue and is part of NAC’s wider natural resources portfolio. These include seven active nickel mines and a growing renewable energy arm.
According to MGB Regional Director Mario Ancheta, the company has obtained all the necessary permits to conduct mining and tree-cutting activities within a designated 15-hectare area located 1.1 kilometers from the protected zone.
“As part of site preparation, approximately 12,000 trees, including small ones, have been cut. DMC is required to plant 100 trees for every one cut,” Ancheta clarified.
He noted that reforestation efforts have already started in non-operational and buffer areas, which is in line with a memorandum of agreement between DMC and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The agreement mandates DMC to reforest a total of 1,299 hectares across the Cagayan Valley Region. In particular these comprise of 125 hectares in Cagayan, 904 in Isabela, 60 in Nueva Vizcaya, and more than 200 in Quirino.
Ancheta also reassured the public that communities near the mining areas remain safe. Operations are also being closely monitored by a Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) to ensure compliance with DMC’s Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA).
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Photo Credit: Philippine Information Agency website
